Elle's Women In Hollywood Power List

Once again, I was asked to compileElle Magazine’s Women In Hollywood “Power List”. Granted, I hate power lists. But this year Deadline readers helped me with out-of-the-box thinking as well as the usual suspects. Please note that 2010’s list is not as complete as I would have liked: the piece lost a page at the last minute. So publicists, scribes, and others who were left off: forgive me.

24 Comments

Richard Stellar • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nancy Biederman was an inspired choice. If humanity = power, than she is truly powerful. She’s saved lives at the Motion Picture Home, and has the enviable position of commanding respect from both sides of the issue. What change will come to insure the future of Motion Picture and Television Healthcare will undoubtedly have her stamp on it. When you need the Motion Picture Nursing home, and find it to still be there ‘taking care of our own’, make sure you thank Nancy.

alright already • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nikki: QUIT saying you hate power lists! You’re on them, you compile them…I’m sure you’re consulted about them. Enough already. Just print it and let it be. OR if you hate them, then don’t participate!

NY Observer • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

I know lists are just made to argue about. So here’s two quibbles.

I was excited to see “Scribes” among the power list. And then — no, it’s not Shonda Rhimes, it’s not Aline Brosh McKenna, it’s your own Nellie Andreeva and Manhola Dargis?

Also: Nina Tassler is a “risk taker”? When nearly every hourlong show on CBS is CSI, NCIS, or Criminal Minds (which are all the same show)?

Bob • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

The only risk Nina Tassler has ever taken is changing the color of her nail polish. Nina REFUSES to take any risks on talent or material. CBS is the same homophobic, sexist, misogynistic cop procedural network is was ten years ago.
Nikki she seduced you with her heartfelt lies and shiny smile. She is Les Moonves butt boy.

A. M. • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

re: SCRIBES – I don’t get it, either. Fully expected to see some screenwriters mentioned for a change. Shonda Rhimes with her 3 shows, for example. I ventured to TALENT, but no luck there, either. Melissa Rosenberg, out of all people, gets mentioned for her Twilight adaptions? Let’s see how that powerhouse will fare post Twilight. I would have cut Team Conan to make room for some real scribes…

The Commenter (formerly known as brick) • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

No, Oprah on this list is a surprise.

Tooner • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nikki,

You missed by a mile on the animation grouping: What about Hannah Minghella at SPA, or Ellen Goldsmith-Vein at Gotham, or Anne Daley at Dreamworks, Cyma Zarghami at Nickelodeon, or Vanessa Morrison at Fox? Jennifer Yu Nelson is a nice lady and very talented, but every director and producer (male or female) at Dreamworks is there only as long as Jeffrey’s whims remain unchanged. She is not by any stretch of the imagination powerful, nor really is Bonnie Arnold. The real female power brokers in animation are nowhere on your list.

Jack • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Where’s Amanda Schwartz?

Dan White • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

How about Wendy Finerman?
Best Producer in Hollywood man or woman. Has balls to stick to her guns!

Rebecca • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Everyone who works in the Industry, including every person on the List should contact Nancy Biederman to offer their assistance in helping to keep the current sick and elderly residents of the Motion Picture & Television Fund Nursing Home in place and to reopen the Nursing Home open for future generations of Industry workers who need care or who will need care [“life turns on a dime”]. Ms. Biederman has worked 24/7 to keep the Home open and she needs your help too. Please stand up and be counted. You can help save lives and the dignity of our elderly. Reach out to her through the website: Savingthelivesofourown.org
Truly, Saint Nancy!

mfan • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

I liked the “talent” list better last year, but I realize you have to mix things up to avoid boredom.

M. Sherwood • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Thank you, Nancy Biederman, for having the courage to stand up for what is right. When the MPTF’s present leadership acknowledges its moral, ethical and legal responsibility to adhere to its founding principles, it will be because you had the integrity to challenge and question the actions of those who thought they were above accountability. To all in he industry who believe and support the mission that “we take case of our own” you are our heroine.

And, Nikki, thank you for recognizing Nancy’s tireless commitment by electing her for the Power List.

Yeah, right • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

I was so looking forward to clicking on “Scribes” to see which of the many talented and powerful women screenwriters made it on the list…

Jeffrey • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nice list, Nikki. I’m a little surprised to see that Liz Gately and Andrea Wong didn’t make your list.

Barbara • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nancy, Thank you so MUCH for everything you are doing. It personally means a lot to me since my Aunt and Uncle live at the Motion Picture Retirement home and they have lost track of their mission of “taking care of our own” Thank YOU for remembering the mission!

laura murray • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Vanessa Morrison??? Presumably you have to return phone calls to be on a power list, no?

Cheryl Hardy Phillips • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Thanks to all the Deadline readers for thinking beyond the box and honoring the philanthropic work of Nancy Biederman who has tirelessly been the voice of all the wonderful residents of the Motion Picture and Television Home. For the past two years she has dedicated herself to making sure the 90 year promise to “take care of our own” continues for future generations of the Industry.

Doug • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

It looks like there are no women writers or directors in Hollywood of consequence.

mercenarious • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Silly Doug, that would mess things up.

Kudos • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nancy Dubuc is a great choice Nikki. You got it right!

bobby the saint • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Looks like Affirmative Action is working well for women in Hollywood — WHITE women, that is.

So much for my belief in the melting pot, democracy/meritocracy of power in Hollywood, a place that so smugly touts itself as ‘liberal’ but apparently doesn’t live it. This list is enough to make me a Rush Limbaugh or Glen Beck fan!

To be fair it is an OK list, Nikki, but I was disappointed at how MONOCHROMATIC it is. White women, judging by your rundown, have it made in the shade in Hollywood! They comprise 98 or 99 percent of the list!

Reading this was like seeing the Vanity Fair recent cover on young Hollywood and looking at white woman after white women after white woman. No Asians. No Indians. No blacks.

What’s going on?

I, too, was a bit bummed that your “scribes” section didn’t include working writer-producers (screenwriters, NOT the reporters who cover the industry, are the true scribes of Hollywood) — folks such as Shonda “Grey’s Anatomy” Rimes or Veena “Cold Case” Sud, both of whom are top show runners and writers in their own right. Or, for that matter, Kirsten Smith or Karen Lutz, two AMAZING screenwriters/producing ladies who bring a lot of green to the table in Box Office lucre (and, yes, also happen to be white!)

J.B. • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Nikki – This is an exquisite list.

@naysayers
If you want a complete directory of hollywood females, look elsewhere. You missed the point.

Dina • on Nov 4, 2010 2:57 pm

This list has no screenwriters or TV writers or directors. What gives?
Very corporate and white. Did press reps just lobby you for these honors?
Seriously bummed.
Nina Tassler the most uncreative exec in the business. She lies directly your face with total conviction. It’s so gutsy and she is so charming doing it.
Nina is a total shill.